From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8) by Charlaine Harris Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of From Dead to Worse (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 8)
Book Review: wrapping up loose ends
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been a fan from the first, and I have to say I was pretty happy with this book. I feel that Harris is MAYBE getting back on track with this series. The past couple books have slowly been wrapping up the millions of storylines this series has been dragging behind it - kind of like Jacob in A Christmas Carol. I'm hopeful that we've seen the last of Alcide and the gang, along with the werepanthers and a lot of the extras that went along with those gangs. If I were sookie I think I'd get my Grandpa to kill them all! At least this one really spotlighted Sookie, because the books had really started to be about everyone else except her. And while I kind of liked Quinn my hope is that in the end she ends up with Sam, because he is the only one who cares about her just for herself and not for what she can do for them. Go Sam!Book Review: Louisiana Blues
Summary: 5 Stars
From Dead to Worse (2008) is the eighth fantasy novel in the Southern Vampire series, following All Together Dead. In the previous volume, Sookie Stackhouse finally realized what was going on and organized an evacuation party from the human workers. Cecile set off the fire alarm and other humans started downstairs.
Sookie managed to get Erik Northman up and the two of them got Pam into her coffin and then pushed it out the window. Sookie told the EMTs how to handle the vampires and then acted as a spotter for the rescue teams. Then she found Andre buried under some rubble.
In this novel, just about everybody in town is present for the double wedding of Portia Bellefleur to Glen Vick and Halleigh Robinson to Andy Bellefleur. The ceremony has been scheduled after dark so that the vampires can attend. The Weres are represented by Calvin Norris and Tanya Grissom. Sookie is not very pleased to see Tanya again.
Sookie was invited as a guest, but both Sam Merlotte and herself are working the bar since the intended bartender was injured in an auto accident. Then one of Halleigh's bridesmaids is taken to the hospital and Sookie is asked to fill in for her. Sookie rushes upstairs and changes out of her barmaid outfit.
The bridesmaid dress is a little tight and the shoes are a half size too small. Luckily she won't have to rush around while wearing them. Getting downstairs to the garden is going to be the worst part.
The wedding goes well and the two couples are married without any mishaps (except for the missing bartender and bridesmaid). The photographer takes pictures of Halleigh's bridesmaids first so that Sookie can get back to work. She quickly changes clothes and her toes sigh with relief.
As Sookie is handing out drinks, she meets an oriental vampire who says that he is called Jonathan since his real name is not pronounceable by most people. She notices a Nevada driver license in his billfold as he leaves a tip. He bows to her and she bows back.
Sookie also notices an older man at the edge of the woods. He sees her looking at him and steps forward as he gazes back at her. When he comes forward, all the vampires look his way simultaneously, bow slightly, and then go back their ongoing conversations. The man looks withered, but beautiful.
Sam asks Sookie about Tanya Grissom as they work the bar. Sam has gotten the impression that Sookie doesn't like Tanya. Of course, he is correct; Sookie had some bad experiences with Tanya when she was hired by the Van Pelt family. But Sookie knows that Sam likes Tanya and doesn't feel quite right about spreading her prejudices to her boss.
When Sookie gets home, Amelia Broadway is waiting at the kitchen table to hear about the wedding. She is living with Sookie, but is not really a member of the local social circle and was not invited to the wedding. Amelia also has something else to discuss with Sookie. Her father -- a rich contractor in New Orleans -- wishes to visit Amelia and wants to meet Sookie.
In this story, Copley Carmichael tries to act as like a good old boy, but Amelia's father is obviously used to being a local power broker. Amelia loves the old man, but is also afraid of him. She just can't say no to him.
Eric calls Sookie and asks her to go out with him for a dinner meeting. It is not a date, for Eric intends to escort her to the meeting and then wait outside until she is done. Sookie finds that the lovely, but withered, man is waiting for her. She soon finds out that he is a Fairy prince and also her great-grandfather.
Amelia's witch mentor shows up at the house to speak with her errant student. Amelia has been avoiding Octavia Fant since Bob Jessup was turned into a cat during some exotic sex with Amelia. Of course, Amelia is really not eager to face Octavia and admit that she still hasn't been able to reverse the transformation.
Alcide Herveaux calls Sookie to ask for a favor. One his fellow Weres has been murdered and he would like Amelia to perform an ectoplasmic reconstruction of the killing. Octavia goes along to help Amelia with the spell.
This tale soon has Sookie facing attempts to murder her. On two separate occasions, an unknown Were tries to kill her and no one knows why. Alcide believes that Patrick Furnan -- the new packmaster -- is responsible for the murders and murder attempts.
Sookie blames these troubles on Hurricane Katrina. All Louisiana has been disrupted by the storm. The vampire hierarchy in the state has been greatly weakened and even the werewolves are having problems.
Then there are Sookie's personal problems. Jason is having troubles with his wife Crystal and is not handling it well; Tanya is not helping the situation. Arlene is still hanging around with the local Fellowship of the Sun group and now hates Sookie. Bill Compton is still professing love for her and Eric is still trying to find out what happened when he lost his memory.
The story has some depressing times and moments of pure terror, with occasional flashes of joy. It is just one thing after another in the life of Sookie Stackhouse. Enjoy!
Highly recommended for Harris fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of telepathic disabilities, preternatural creatures, and tangled romance.
-Arthur W. Jordin
Book Review: Weaker than previous books, but questions are answered
Summary: 4 Stars
I have really enjoyed every book in this series, including this one. So, I was surprised to find so many negative or mediocre reviews for it on Amazon. At least until I read those reviews. Many of them make valid points in their assessment, though I disagree with their conclusion. The plot for this book wasn't as dramatic or fulfilling as previous entries (figuring out a werewolf takeover in wake of the vampire meltdown wasn't a mystery). So, I could see how some fans would find the book lacking. A lot of characters do pop up seemingly just to tie up loose ends. However, I found these points actually made the book very good for me. It's nice to have some questions answered without 50 more rising to take their place.
Not every book in a series needs to have a "save the world" plotline, with the heroine knee-deep in a conspiracy, and making life or death decisions. Sookie is not the kick-butt heroine that Anita Blake is. She's better - an independent, spirited woman doing her best in a world that is much bigger than she is, and she knows it. I liked seeing the domestic side of her life along with the paranormal chaos. The problems with her brother and his new wife; her ties to the werewolf pack and the trouble it causes; the issues with her new roommate, and the friendships she has, all make her seem more real. She has a life; she attends weddings; she pays bills. She steps in to help her friends, be they were or human. I also LOVED the revelation concerning her family history, and the surprise at the end. The next book will no doubt be another action-oriented mystery, but this one provides a nice transition from the vampire attack to whatever may be next.
Certainly, if this were the first book in the series it would be a disappointment. But, eight books in it doesn't hurt to have a middle book that ties some things together and doesn't put the heroine in mortal danger every other chapter. I find that Rachel Morgan and Anita Blake have gotten to the point where the heroines have no lives anymore. They jump from one crisis to the next, and even their allies are a danger to them. I can't help but wonder how those heroines find the will to keep going when the authors give them so little to live for? Sookie's life may not be perfect, but there is a lot of happiness in it that helps her (and me) get through.
I do admit I was somewhat disappointed in how her relationship with Quinn was so casually tied up, but overall I found the book a real page turner. Highly recommended.
I also recommend the Mercy Thompson series by Patricia Briggs. Mercy is a lot like Sookie - a real person with real problems who also has to deal with paranormal issues.Moon Called (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 1), Blood Bound (Mercy Thompson Series, Book 2), Iron Kissed (Mercy Thompson, Book 3).
Book Review: The best one yet.
Summary: 5 Stars
Sookie gets better with each book. I can't
wait to see what HBO does with the series.
Book Review: Still a winner
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read the critics of this installment of the series, and see where they are coming from. However, I enjoyed the various story lines. I thought it was a nice switch and made me eager to read the next book in the series. I was worried that this series was turning into the Anita Blake series, where every book after Obsidian Butterfly, was the same story but with different names. I would not recommend reading this book as the first in the series, but I felt it delivered.